7 Jul 2012

V8 decision prompts Auditor-General complaint

9:35 pm on 7 July 2012

An Auckland councillor has complained to the Auditor-General about information she says was withheld from councillors before giving the V8 supercar series the green light.

On Thursday, the council voted in favour of the city hosting the V8s at the Pukekohe track for five years and to spend $10 million of ratepayer money on the event, partly to upgrade the Pukekohe circuit.

Dr Cathy Casey's letter asks the Auditor-General to look at why the council-controlled organisation, Auckland Tourism Events and Economic Development, withheld due diligence and risk reports from councillors.

She says the council agreed to the event without knowing the true risks.

Dr Casey says to be denied this information by a council-controlled organisation is concerning.

The organisation says the V8 race will generate an annual return of $7 million for the region.